Blog was not invented in China, but it has been hugely popular in this country. Nowadays, almost everybody has a blog, presenting whatever he/she feels like to. Its users range from Nintendo DSL gamers to pop stars, and its hosts range from Windows Live Spaces to the Chinese native blog host www.bokee.com. And nonetheless, many of these hosts are reported to have attracted a large number of users.
This popularity can be probably attributed to the common Chinese character of being self-contained. Many Chinese prefer to keep their opinions to themselves rather than speaking out aloud. However, they do have a desire to share their experiences and knowledge, if the communications channel is right. Blogs are clearly one of those. Very often, the Chinese simply exchange their blog addresses, and then, when sitting back at home, they talk to each other over the blog. Blogs have obviously facilitated information flow and the construction of social networks in this country and particularly among the youth.
However, blogging is not the only booming communication technology in today’s China. SMS is another. It has developed far beyond a simple text-based voice alternative. Youth in China are quite in favor of a service package known as M-zone, a product of China Mobile. It is youth-oriented and allows them to send 500 SMS per month with a fixed monthly charge commensurate to 3 euros. Some friends of mine send 500-600 SMS per month and some even reach 800. Regardless of the time and location, one can always shield oneself from the world with a mobile and feel free to be shy but in the mean time stay in touch with one’s contacts. It is not difficult to see that a social network and community is lying beneath the seemingly boring daily life and is mediating influence in an unprecedented scale.
